Academic Speaker Series

Monday, March 1, 2004 - "Magic with Mathematics: Is the Formula Faster than the Eye?"

Edward Burger is Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Williams College in Williamstown, MA. He is known for making mathematics come to life through his enthusiasm and humor. Burger asks: "Is mind-reading possible? Can you make your dorm room bigger without throwing out your roommate? Can you break the bank at Vegas with dice? And perhaps the most compelling question: Do math professors know how to dress? No mathematical background is necessary and no mathematics will be explicitly discussed. If you hate mathematics, this talk is for you. If the sight of an equation makes you ill, this talk is for you." Burger is the winner of a Mathematics Association of America distinguished teaching award.

Burger is known for his entertaining, energetic, and enlightening presentations. He has lectured at numerous conferences and universities around the world. His over 175 lectures include several AMS-MAA Invited Addresses at winter and summer national meetings; keynote addresses at national NCTM Conferences; and many MAA sectional meetings. He has also made numerous appearances on radio and television including various NPR affiliates and NBC-TV.

Burger was awarded the 2000 Northeastern Section of the MAA Award for Distinguished Teaching and 2001 MAA Deborah and Franklin Tepper Haimo National Award for Distinguished College or University Teaching of Mathematics. He was the 2001 Genevieve W. Gore Distinguished Resident at Westminster College and the 2001 Cecil and Ida Green Honors Professor at Texas Christian University. He was also an Ulam Visiting Professor at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Burger is a member of the AMS Committee on Committees; was the chair of the Program Committee for the MAA Mathfest 2001; and is an associate editor of the American Mathematical Monthly and is the 2001-2003 MAA Polya Lecturer.